Strathmore Music Center hosted its inaugural Appetite Festival on August 1st and 2nd. I purchased a ticket to attend the festival months earlier and looked forward to the participating in the lineup of activities - lectures, tasting, demonstrations, and did I mention tasting?
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| photo by TEP |
Day 1:Mother Nature had other plans as dark clouds gathered on Friday and the hint of rain looked more like a promise of rain. The planners of the Festival move all its Friday activities indoors - much to the confusion of guests. Looking for a spot to relax after maneuvering thru rush hour traffic to get the Strathmore I asked for directions to the VIP lounge (it was part of my ticket package). The staff at the entrance of the VIP lounge told me that the room was really supposed to be for the meet and greet after the headlining celebrity chef's performance. Once my identity was confirmed I was granted entrance. Bowls of goldfish crackers, M&Ms, and Chex mix sat in the middle of the room. I found a seat and studied the map and list of activities. A family sat down near me with food purchased from the Music Center's restaurant. Half the food went uneaten - the man told me and others seated nearby that the food was not good.
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| photo by TEP |
Ms. Giada Laurentiis was the headliner the evening of August 1st. Charming, patient and accommodating Ms. Laurentiis answered questions from the audience while audience participants received instruction and guidance in preparing two dishes - mufaletta and pea tortellini. After the dishes were prepared and consumed Ms. Laurentiis to respond to audience questions. When the last question was answered the house lights brightened signaling that it was time for the audience to depart. I returned to the VIP lounge to queue up for entrance. A staff member explained to the queue of people that no personal photos could be taken and that Strathmore would contacts guests about how to obtain the photos. Some guests still requested personal photos and autographs, much to the chagrin of the staff. Ms. Laurentiis, of course, gracious as ever, obliged. As I exited the room I stopped for a brief moment and asked the local NBC reporter, Ms. EunYang to take a photo (Ms. Yang presented Ms. Laurentiis to the queue of guests).
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| With Ms. Eun Yang |
Day 2: I hoped that the weather would clear up and that the missteps that took place on Day1 would be corrected as I returned to Strathmore to attend the activities I previously identified on the schedule of events. The first lecture I attempted to attend was filled to capacity. As one attendee emerged from the room she told me, "It's not worth it. You can see or hear anything." I sought out the VIP lounge to review the schedule again for other options. The staff attending the room were pleasant and kind offering coffee, wine, cheese and crackers. I spent the remainder of the afternoon visits vendor tables, tasting their products and learning about their respective businesses. Look for upcoming blog posts about these vendors and their great products.
My second attempt to attend a lecture - this one led by Chef Robert Wiedmaer (owner of Wildwood Kitchen, Marcel's Brasserie Beck) was almost foiled by the incorrect information provided to me by a volunteer. Chef Wiedmaer's lecture was informative and humorous. After preparing a lovely dish of scallop, scallop roe with English peas and chanterelles and beurre blanc he told the eagerly waiting diners they would have to eat the dish with their fingers because no additional forks were available. One of the diners made a hasty exit, telling me as he passed by ' I'm not eating that food with my fingers." An unfortunate end to a good lecture and demonstation.
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| Chef Wiedmaer and Matt cook before a hungry audience |
After the presentation I had to leave because of another commitment so I did not get to see Mr. Andrew Zimmern on stage.
Would I return for a second Appetite Festival? Perhaps. I came, I saw and I tasted. It was a fair attempt and there is lots of room for improvement. In the meantime I will enjoy the goodies I purchased from several vendors at the Appetite Festival.
Be well,
Technicolor girl
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